Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-13
PENLITTLE'S FRIEND.


His Self Sacrifice, and Wife's Noble Heroism.
The north bound train stopped for a
scant half minute at Wyndham, a small
station house, and set in thick oak and
chestnut woods, and one passenger swung
quickly down to the platform.
Two vehicles were waiting; the coIored
coachman of one turned his bays home
ward; it had not suited the bays Master
to come out from the city by that train.
The other carriage, light phaeton, held
only pretty woman, who managed the
riens with saucy carelessness which was
fully justified by the sedate appearance
of her little horse. The one passenger
was evidently her property.
"Was it very hot liz town to-day, Frank?'
This was a leading question, by which
Mr.. Peplittle's pretty driver hoped to
find out why her husband looked so pale
without suggesting to him that she no
ticed his pailor.
sob, Sc ptember heats are alwaes OPP
pressive in town." answered the gentle
man YEARLY, "fnd [ haven't felt very
we'll o-day. But come, little woman,
cast that shadow from thy brow, and let's
go and take long drive down the river
road"
There were various social and domestic
reasons that made this drive untimely
for Mrs. Penlittle; but such was the fash
ion of her wifehood that the bottom
might have dropped out of her affairs be-
fore she would have refused 90 take her
husbands pleasure. She turned her
pony's head 80 the river.
The drive was not a happy one to her.
She was distinctly conscious that some
thing, had troubled her gay, pleasure-lov-
ing husband, and he, on his part, knew
that bis forced gaiety was not deoeiving
her. Vie knew this SO well that be gave
up the effort after a while, and Lee her do
all the talking.
Mr.. Frank Penlittle had been favor
tie with men and women ever since he
had worn skirts and long curls. It is not
enough to say that he was handsome; he
had that charm of face and voice and
manner, which is only found in one wo-
man among thousand; it is safe to say
that no one man in ten times that nun
Der possesses 1t, and then, alas, he is not
likely to be g very manly fellow. Marie
Ricord had fallen desperately in love
with Mr.. Penlittle, had turned coldly
away from twenty better men, and mar
ried him, and had spent five years of Wv
id happiness, mixed with vague restless
longings, which her husbands light ma
ture did not satisfy.
When the evening mail came in, Mrs.
Penlittle was sitting on the vine shaded
pertico, waiting for her husband, who
was unusually dilatory about making his
toilet. She opened the four O'Clock pa
per and was stunned by the announce
n mt of it's latest column:
"Astounding Defalcation! Mr.. Now
5ray's sudden disappearance. Lunch
ing with his friend! Fifty thousand dol
lars"
There followed these cruel capitals q
brief account of some dishonesty in the
accounts of the Fifth Street Bank, by
which fifty thousand dollars had been
filched out of its moneys and the theft
proved at once on Arthur Mowbray by
his flight.
Mrs. PenIittla felt as if some one had
struck her hard blow. Mr.. Mowbray
was their near neighbor. their lifelong
friend. and had been in the old days her
ardent lover. His position in the bank
was similar to Mr.. Penlittle's. It was
Mr.. Mowbray's carriage that had gone
away empty from the station but two
hours before; 1t was with Mr.. Penlittle
that the guilty man had lunched half an
hour before leaving the city, and Mr..
Penlittle, the report stated, had stopped
all proceedings against his friend by Civ
ing guarantees that within thirty days he
would on behalf of Arthur Mowbray, re-
fund the money.
The paper slipped TO the floor, and the
lady's face was covered with both hands;
she heard her husbands step at the door,
and met him with burst of tears. Mr..
L. lctn fho,,
his wife.
1T could not tell you this afternoon,
darling" he said, 81 could not make up
my mind TO give you such q shock"
'But it can not be; I will not believe
that Arthur Mowbray could do a dishon-
orable thing"
She looked up almost fiercely, as il re-
preaching her husband for not denying
this vile story. lie met her look rather
unsteadily, and answered, in a low, agitat-
ed voice:
81 know all about it, Marie, and some
gay promise to tell you all I know; but
L beg you not to question me now.n
The wife threw her head back with q
startled suddenness, as if some hidden
dagger had struck her. Herbrief. search
ing gaze brought the color to Mr.. Pen
Titles face, while, strangely enough
hers grew pale. Her arms dropped pre-
sently and she turned slowly away,
For year Mowbray's name was net
mentioned between them. Mr.. Penlittle
had news of him which he woald have
been glad to tell his wife, but he could
never bring himself to face Sat startled,
searching gaze-again. Marie scanned
the papers secretly for news of the de-
faulter, but hastily turned the converse
ton if her husbands talk seemed to be